Health Care Legal Terms Glossary


Demystifying Medical Jargon: A Comprehensive Guide to Healthcare Terminology

glossary health-care

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Health Care

  • Covered EntitiesOrganizations and individuals required to comply with HIPAA rules for handling protected health information.

  • Healthcare ProxyA legal document appointing someone to make healthcare decisions on a person's behalf if they become incapacitated.

  • HIPAAThe Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law that sets standards for protecting patient health information privacy and security.

  • Informed ConsentPatient's voluntary permission for medical treatment after full disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives.

  • Medical MalpracticeProfessional negligence by a healthcare provider through actions or treatment that deviate from accepted standards of practice, resulting in harm to a patient.

  • PHIProtected Health Information (PHI) is any individually identifiable health data protected by HIPAA privacy standards.

  • Standard of CareThe level of care and skill that a reasonably competent healthcare provider would exercise in similar circumstances.